Blu-ray and HD-DVD will turn movie night on its heels, but when will we see products?

Optical high-definition discs and players are two of the most highly anticipated products of 2006. Manufacturers have been promising that the new high-def format will make video presentations noticeably crisper and clearer than pictures presented by today's discs and DVD players. Moreover, the high-def products are compatible with 7.1 surround-sound systems, which can deliver impressive lifelike sound to your family room. Plus, Hollywood studios will be able to pack the discs with more bonus content than the extras commonly found on today's DVDs. For example, studios might include games and interactive shopping for merchandise worn by the actors.

High-Def Battleground

Better pictures, lifelike sound and discs loaded with fun extras -- it all sounds terrific. Unfortunately, enjoying those experiences may not be as simple as picking up a new player and some discs at your local electronics retailer. Even though manufacturers have been demonstrating the capabilities of their new high-def players at trade shows for several months, the products may not be commercially available until later this year. When the players do hit the streets, you may find yourself completely and utterly confused over which one to buy. You might see one shelf lined with players based on a standard called Blu-ray and another shelf with products that adhere to a competing high-def standard called HD-DVD. Which one is better? That's a hard question to answer without getting into a mountain of techno mumbo jumbo. But the simple fact that manufacturers have divided themselves into separate Blu-ray and HD-DVD camps seems to be the biggest issue these days.

Manufacturers Divided

No one can dispute that a high-definition optical format is the next logical step in the evolution of entertainment hardware and software, but the fact that manufacturers haven't agreed on a single standard may have huge implications on the adoption and acceptance of the technology. Participants from both camps agree that one standard would be best for the industry. "Toshiba (an advocate of the HD-DVD technology) continues to believe that a single format is best for the industry, and we will continue to work towards that," says Jodi Sally, vice president of marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products Digital A/V Group. "Both groups have been saying that they are open to discussion about unification," adds Panasonic's Blu-ray expert, Tony Jasionowski. "But the fact of the matter is that there is no unification and both groups are going to market this year with their respective products.

"It poses a bit of a dilemma for the consumer," Jasionowski continues. "Consumers are not going to want to have to choose between two different formats." While the battle between Blu-ray and HD-DVD wages on, you may want to start pooling your family's piggybanks. The new high-definition players will probably be pricey. Panasonic is selling a Blu-ray player in Japan for $3,000 and expects to sell it for around $1,000 in the States. And because anything in high def always looks better on a big screen, you may want to swap your current set for something larger. "You really need something around 50 or 60 inches to enjoy the higher resolution," Jasionowski suggests.

High cost combined with confusion over the two different formats may be enough to keep some consumers from jumping on the high-def bandwagon. But like any new technology, prices will drop over time, and a unified format may eventually be adopted.

*Blu-ray Camp*	*HD-DVD Camp*
Panasonic	Toshiba
Philips	Kenwood
Sharp	Sanyo
Dell	Canon
Mitsubishi Electric	NEC
HP	Onkyo
Hitachi	Fujitsu
Apple	TEAC
LG Electronics	Intel
Sony	Microsoft
Pioneer	Acer
Thomson

These are partial lists; go to www.blu-raydisc.com and www.hddvdprg.com for a complete list of companies.

Related:
Home Electronics 2006: The Race for Space in Your Living Room
Home Electronics 2006: High-Def Developments
Home Electronics 2006: The iPod

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